Scott Antcliffe of Lodge Lane, suffered with years of teasing and abuse when he was younger and runs a website encouraging children who are being bullied to talk about what is happening to them.

Scott dropped out of sixth form to take up bricklaying but returned two years later.

"I met this Year 7 pupil and asked him if he was enjoying being at school," said Scott, who is now 21.

"He said no because people kept picking on him because he wore glasses and called him fat and my heart just sank."

"It made me think of my experiences and I wanted to do something to help."

Scott was teased by other students when he was 13 after putting on weight during the summer holidays. He says that the bullying had a huge affect on him and that he is still self conscious because of it.

"I used to be really confident," said Scott, who is now studying at Sheffield Hallam University.

"But then over the summer between Year 7 and Year 8, I put on weight and a group of lads at school starting making fun of me."

"It ripped my confidence to bits. It just escalated.The group of lads were all protected by their older brothers so I didn't dare do anything and I didn't want to be a grass. I didn't tell my mum either so I just kept it bottled up."

"I got jumped by a group on my way home once and when I got home I just burst into tears. If I see them now they can't look at me."

During his time in the sixth form, Scott set up a lunchtime support group for students to offer one to one talks, group exercises and confidence building sessions.

He has been involved with Aston Youth Club, based at Aston Comprehensive School, ever since and is now working towards a qualification to become a part-time youth worker.

Scott has given various talks at several schools in areas such as Kiveton and Thurcroft and is hoping to do more in the future.

His website, Aston Anti-Bullying Campaign, also gives parents, teachers and students information about how to report bullying, how to support someone who is being bullied as well as a forum.

"I've had lots of emails from parents who have said that the site has helped them," said Scott.

"That is great to hear - it really encourages me to keep going and do more work like this."

To contact Scott or for more information, visit www.astonabc.co.uk.